Knowledge Centre – Passive Strategies

Montreal Protocol was amended to completely phase out HFCs by 2047. This can prevent global temperature rise by 0.5 ºC. HFCs do not deplete the ozone layer but can cause greater global warming than carbon dioxide. Targets for reducing HFC use is different for developed and developing countries. Developed countries like US have committed to reducing HFC use to 85% of 2011 levels. Baseline year for India and few other developing nations like Iran, Pakistan is 2024, while the reduction target of 85% and milestone year of 2047 remain the same. More than 190 countries gathered in Kigali, Rwanda, in October 2016 to sign the amendment during the 28th Meeting of Parties to Montreal Protocol. Read more..

Construction for School of Design and Environment at National Singapore University, designed to be a net zero energy building, has started. Energy savings measures like natural ventilation and daylight access are coupled with a roof top solar PV plant to push this building to net zero. Serie Architects and Multiply Architects collaborated to develop the design.Read more..

National Green Tribunal has directed Delhi Development Authority to conduct environmental audits in all government buildings in Delhi as a measure to against rising air pollution checks in Delhi. The audits will include solid waste collection and disposal, sewage and indoor air quality systems. NGT has also specified that guidelines to curb pollution emitted from government buildings shall be issued by Central Pollution Control Board and Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) shortly. Read more..

Theme of the Green Building Exhibition, held from 16th to 21st November, was “Green Homes”. Several units with green technologies and materials were installed for demonstration. Other manufacturers of building envelopes, HVAC, thermal insulation, smart building controls technologies, participated in the Green Buildings Exhibition at the 18th CHTF. Read more..

Paryavas Bhawan, the new office building for Raipur Development Authority, Chhattisgarh State Housing Board and state environment protection board has been certified five star by GRIHA. Paryavas Bhawan has a rain water harvesting system and 200 kW on site solar power plant. Read more..

Karnataka government has adopted guidelines for energy efficient and thermally comfortable public buildings developed in collaboration with the Indo-Swiss Building Energy Efficiency Project (BEEP). These are expected to assist the state in managing its electricity deficit which has continued to grow despite increase in installed power generation capacity. The BEEP guidelines have resulted from an extensive partnership between the BEEP and state PWD in designing and constructing ECBC compliant buildings. The guidelines take into account different climatic conditions across the state. Read more..

Odisha has started India’s first grid connected solar rooftop project. Green Energy Development Corporation of Odisha Limited (GEDCOL) and the Central Electricity Supply Utility (CESU), in partnership with Azure Power, will be implement the program across 100 government buildings in Bhubaneshwar and Cuttack. Investment for the project has been sourced from private sector and Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. International Finance Corporation and European Union (through EU-India Cooperation on Clean Technologies and Energy Efficiency for Eco-Cities) have assisted GEDCOL in program design.